The Member of Parliament for Sefwi Bodi, Sampson Ahi, has defended Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) Chief Executive Officer, Sammy Gyamfi, against criticism from the Minority in Parliament over reported losses associated with the Domestic Gold Purchase Programme (DGPP).
Mr Ahi said the Minority should focus on the facts surrounding the reported losses rather than singling out Mr Gyamfi for personal attacks.
His comments follow claims by the Minority that GoldBod must account for losses associated with the DGPP instead of taking credit for gains from the programme while distancing itself from reported transaction-related losses.
The dispute follows an August 2026 report by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which indicated that the Bank of Ghana’s DGPP, implemented through GoldBod, recorded losses of more than US$1.7 billion in 2025, equivalent to about 1.5 per cent of Ghana’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
However, speaking during the government’s Accountability Series on Wednesday, August 19, GoldBod CEO Sammy Gyamfi dismissed the Minority’s claims, saying GoldBod does not “take moral lessons from the brothel.”
In a statement responding to Mr Gyamfi, Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin maintained that the reported losses constituted a financial loss to the state and therefore required accountability.
But speaking in an interview on Adom FM’s morning show Dwaso Nsem, Sampson Ahi argued that GoldBod’s audited accounts and the Auditor-General’s report should be considered when assessing the institution’s financial performance.
“GoldBod has audited accounts for 2025, covering the entire year, and the Auditor-General has issued a report. Those reports show that GoldBod’s transactions within 2025 made a profit,” he said.
Mr Ahi said if the IMF report points to losses, the focus should be on understanding the circumstances that resulted in those losses rather than using them to advance what he described as a political agenda.
“If the IMF is saying there are losses, then let us look for the causes of those losses. But when you want to push an agenda that does not exist, then it becomes a problem,” he said.
He urged the Minority to criticise the government and its institutions based on verifiable information.
“I will urge the Minority that we agree you can criticise, but do it with facts. This time around, they are wrong and they should admit it,” he said.
Mr Ahi also accused the Minority of personalising the matter by focusing its criticism on Sammy Gyamfi.
“Why are they personalising it? They are engaging in propaganda,” he alleged.
He cited Mr Afenyo-Markin’s previous role as Board Chairman of Ghana Water Company Limited, arguing that losses recorded under his watch did not lead to him being singled out personally.
“Afenyo-Markin was a Board Chairman for Ghana Water. Under his watch, they made losses, but nobody singled him out. So the moment you single out Sammy Gyamfi, then you are personalising it,” he said.
According to Mr Ahi, the debate should be centred on the performance of state institutions rather than targeting individual officials.
“You are no longer talking about a state institution that has made losses. You single out Gyamfi and threaten him with huge bail. That is not right,” he said.
He warned that what he described as personal attacks on young public officials could discourage young people from participating in governance.
“When you continue like that, you kill youthful participation in governance,” he said.
Mr Ahi praised President John Mahama for giving Sammy Gyamfi the opportunity to serve and urged the public to support him in the discharge of his duties.
“The opportunity that Mahama has given to Sammy Gyamfi, he is doing his best. I think we should rather encourage, support, motivate and urge him to do more for the Ghanaian economy rather than running him down,” he said.
He maintained that Mr Gyamfi had not committed any wrongdoing and should be allowed to focus on his responsibilities at GoldBod.
MORE:
BoG’s US$1.7bn Domestic Gold Purchase programme not our loss – Goldbod
Minority insists GoldBod must account for GH¢22bn reported loss
Sammy Gyamfi dares Afenyo-Markin to produce evidence of GoldBod losses
